The Spencer Tigers scrimmaged last week in preparation for their season opener this Friday at home against Humboldt. Jack Berends (11) looked for daylight on a run. Carter Goyette (22) found some open field where he could run. Preston Pitts (16) joins some teammates in wrapping up a ballcarrier. Friday night’s game kicks off at 7 p.m. on Dale Norton Field. It will be preceded by the freshmen game starting at 4:15 p.m. (Photos by Sonda Hookfin)

Maria Fahnlander won the Spencer Golf and Country Club’s women’s match play tournament last week, edging Kellie Beneke 3 and 1. Play in the tournament began earlier in the summer and individuals had time frames to complete matches. (Photo submitted)

Monday, Sept. 2, from 8-11 a.m., the Graettinger Labor Day Committee will be hosting a sporting clays event. It will be located just off County Road B14 near the location of the tractor pull. This is open to adults and youth and golf carts and side-x-sides are welcome.

Spencer Golf & Country Club crowned its men’s league champions over the weekend. Matt Conlon and Andy Sikora wound up the winners of the 54-team league. They had to be one of the 12 teams to qualify for the champions derby, a hole-by-hole knockout event, and they bested the other 11 teams. Runners-up were Randy Wiemers and Scott Bender. Third place went to Joe Clark and Brandon Zimmerman. Fourth place was claimed by Chase Hough and Drew Hough. (Photo submitted)

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge will have one antlerless deer hunt on Dec. 27-30. Hunters will be allowed to hunt the entire refuge for this hunt period. The hunt is muzzleloader and antlerless deer only.

I think that our early fall hunting seasons sneak up on us faster every year! What do you think? One thing, though, these early seasons are a good way to get out in the marsh or fields early and get a little dog training in at the same time.

Let’s look at Iowa’s mourning dove season, which, like the early teal season, opens on Sept. 1. What’s amazing to me is that Iowa has now had a dove hunting season since, get this, since 2011.

When you go fishing, if you want to catch a fish, it’s really important that you put your bait where a fish lives. That might sound extremely basic, but the most basic concept of fishing is to fish where the fish are. You can have the shiniest boat rigged with all the newest technology, lots of expensive rods and reels and tackle boxes full of lures, but if you don’t put your lure near a fish, all that other stuff is going to do you no good.

The early teal season is quickly approaching in Iowa, and what a difference a year can make. In 2023, much of Iowa was in a major drought situation, and there was very little water. That made last year’s Sept. 1-16 kind of a roll of the dice!

After years of declining membership and unfruitful attempts at growth, three Lakes Conference schools are now seeking membership in other conferences.

According to a joint statement by Storm Lake and Spencer Community School Districts on Wednesday, Aug. 21, Spirit Lake, Estherville Lincoln Central, and Cherokee have petitioned to leave the Lakes Conference and join other conferences.

Addison Hoben (above) serves and Lauren Horst (Below) makes a dig during the Spencer varsity volleyball team’s scrimmage earlier this week. The Tigers open the regular season Tuesday, Aug. 27, hosting Algona, HMS, Manson-NW Webster, Okoboji and South O’Brien starting at 5 p.m. (Photos submitted)

Spencer Tigers football coach Jim Tighe announced that the team will hold an open practice Wednesday, Aug. 21, and the football program is asking people to donate a sports drink in order to attend.

Practice will begin on the practice field at 4:15 p.m. At 5:45 p.m., the team will move to Dale Norton Field and will be on the field until about 7:25. People can go early to the practice field or wait until until the team is on Dale Norton Field, Tighe said.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently discovered that Eurasian watermilfoil has spread in Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County. A small area was originally found last fall east of the McIntosh Beach and treated this May. A larger area was found last week near Farmer’s Beach.

Over the past 20-plus years, my wife and I have enjoyed traveling our country. In the winter months, we’ve been to different parts of Florida five times, Hawaii four times, Arizona two times and Hilton Head two times.

In the summer, we’ve been to lots of resorts in the Midwest. Plus, we have frequented Door County six times and Branson eight times.

In last week’s column, we looked at the first part of Dan Spengler’s fishing seminar, “The Art and Science of Fishing.” Spengler talked about the importance of understanding the lake or water body by looking at contour maps and analyzing fishing areas before even getting on the water. Once on the water, it’s time to let your electronics take over to filter down the top spots. Secondly, Spengler discussed advanced panfish techniques. Now for part two.

There are still lots of fishing trips ahead for the summer and fall of 2024. In fact, some of the best fishing of the year will be in the next couple of months. Recent conversations with friends who fish indicate that they’re excited about upcoming days on the water.